There was a moment of silence before a snort broke it.
Zeke turned to Khai'Zar, who seemed more than eager to voice his thoughts on what he clearly perceived as an insult.
"I've never made a secret of my intentions," he said. "When I first attempted to take over your body, I had no intention of following the path of a human Mage. Even with your body, I likely couldn't. So yes, I suppose you could call what I did corruption."
Khai'Zar frowned at his own words, as if even this small, temporary admission pained him. "But that is only if you look at things through the most rigid, narrow-minded of views. Ot, would you also call it corruption when a chunk of coal turns into a diamond? Sure, you can no longer burn it, but it becomes far more rare and valuable..."
Despite the serious mood, Zeke could not help but smile. He raised his hands placatingly in a gesture of surrender. "I am well aware, friend. And neither have I forgotten that I would not have made it this far without your heart beating in my chest and your blood running through my veins. As I said, I am not trying to find fault with you. I only want to understand what I should expect in the future."
Khai'Zar remained silent, but his expression softened slightly. It had been a risky move to criticize the gift of his draconic heritage in front of the Dragon, but Zeke had wanted to make it clear that he needed answers today, even if it might offend them.
After all, this was his future they were discussing.
"I cannot answer that for you," Khai'Zar said after a moment. "The path of us Dragons is very different from that of humans. After taking your body, I had planned to find a secluded place to rest for a few decades, perhaps even a century. That would have given me enough time to fully permeate your body with my essence, setting me on the path. From then on, it would have been an endless cycle of feasting and resting until I became the strongest on the continent."
Zeke's jaw nearly dropped. "That was your plan? Eat and sleep? Are you a Dragon or a pig?"
Khai'Zar rolled his eyes. "It is precisely because I am a Dragon that this is all I need to do. Or did you think every race was as pathetic as you humans? Did you believe we all had to struggle like madmen for every scrap of power? No, foolish little whelp. The power you humans so desperately crave is nothing more than our birthright. That is what it means to belong to the Ancient Races, those who have existed since the beginning of time and still endure to this day."
This actually gave Zeke pause.
He had heard the term "Ancient Races" many times before. It referred to the few species that could be called the kings of Magical Beasts, the pinnacles of the food chain. But only now did he begin to understand what that truly meant. These were the only creatures that had truly stood the test of time. The only ones that had lived through every age.
How many times had they witnessed the rise and fall of lesser races? Humans, Elves, Dwarfs, Chimeroi. Nowadays, they now even dared to call themselves the dominant races. How laughable that must seem to the likes of a Dragon, to someone whose living ancestors were older than the entirety of human existence.
Khai'Zar nodded sagely at the look on Zeke's face. "It seems you are finally beginning to understand the true depth of the blessing I bestowed upon you. My blood, the blood of my forefathers, is the most precious gift. To call that corruption is no different from mixing wine with piss and then complaining that the piss has been diluted."
Zeke's face contorted. He had already understood perfectly well. Had there really been a need to go so far as to call his blood piss? Even so, he knew this was simply the Dragon venting over the earlier slight, so he took the hit without complaint.
"Then what does that mean for me?" Zeke asked hopefully. "Could I do the same?"
Khai'Zar shook his head. "That would be impossible for you."
Impossible? There should be no reason why his body would develop differently just because Khai'Zar was not the one inhabiting it. Or was there? Could there be some kind of invisible resonance between a Dragon's body and soul that he did not know about?
"...It is not what you are thinking," Khai'Zar said, cutting off his thoughts before they could spiral further. "The reason you cannot execute my plan is simply that you have raised too high a profile. Many people know about you, important people. You will not be able to simply disappear."
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Zeke had not considered this. His status had opened many doors for him, but it seemed to come with just as many drawbacks.
"Besides," Khai'Zar continued, "I highly doubt you would even be able to do it. To leave your family behind to fend for themselves while you hide in some cave."
It was Zeke's turn to snort. "A cave? What am I, an animal? If I were to hide, I would do so in style. I would take the Alexandria to some forsaken corner of the continent and rise as far into the sky as it can go. There would be no need to leave my family behind, either. There is space enough for everyone."
Khai'Zar paused. "Now that I think about it... let us just do that."
Zeke shook his head. "No, you were right. I cannot do that. I do not think I could watch the world burn while I slowly accumulate power. Besides, it does not feel right to take such a passive approach to my own development. Effective or not, I cannot simply allow your blood to shape me as it wants."
Khai'Zar shook his head in disappointment. "There is still too much human in you. Fine. Do as you see fit. But this is all I can tell you. I do not know how my blood will interfere with your path as a Mage, and neither do I care to find out." The Dragon gave him a meaningful look. "But from what I remember, there never was a path for you to begin with, was there?"
Zeke nodded slowly. In the history of Magic, no one with three affinities had ever reached the rank of Archmage. Even among those with two affinities, only a handful had managed it, one of whom was his own mentor.
Khai'Zar was right. From the beginning, Zeke had always known that he would have to pioneer his own path. So what if a few more variables had been added? The Guardian had spoken of the orthodox way as if it were a clearly defined path, but for Zeke, there had never been a choice to begin with. He was surrounded by a dense jungle, with nothing but his hands and feet to carve his way forward.
Slowly, his expression brightened. "Thanks."
Khai'Zar merely snorted and turned away, but the glint in his eyes showed that he was at least pleased with Zeke's attitude toward facing the unknown.
Finally, Zeke turned to Akasha, who had watched the entire exchange without uttering a single word.
"Do you know," he asked, "what the Guardian meant when he said that you have corrupted my mind?"
Akasha shook her head, then nodded. "I did not previously. But after analyzing your recent memories, I have identified several... anomalies."
Zeke inclined his head, signaling her to continue. He had made a few discoveries of his own, but he wanted to hear her assessment first.
"A certain pattern appears to have taken root within your cognitive framework. An unconscious reliance on my presence," she stated.
Zeke nodded. He had noticed the same after first separating from Akasha. However, he did not consider it a major issue. It was simply something he would need to adjust to again. Like a rich man who had lost his fortune and was forced to live in a hut, there would be inconveniences, but he would adapt in time.
That was not the main concern, in his opinion.
"There is additional information of higher priority," Akasha continued. "But I do not seem to know the proper terminology to explain it."
Zeke waited. He had no intention of letting her stop before she had fully formed her conclusion.
"The operational pattern of your Magic during the mission, as well as the corresponding sensory feedback..." she continued. "It deviates significantly from prior instances. Current analysis suggests that my presence might have exerted a suppressive influence on your baseline behavioral tendencies. It could have even stunted Host's growth or changed its trajectory entirely."
Akasha's expression remained rigid. "Clarification: this outcome was not intentional. I did not know that—"
Zeke raised his hand, cutting her off. "That is enough."
Akasha did not stop. "There was no evidence to suggest that my presence could—"
"Akasha," Zeke said, his voice firmer now, "I said you have nothing to apologize for."
This time, the Spirit fell silent, though he could tell she still blamed herself. Clearly, for a Mind Spirit, an oversight was not something to dismiss easily. In this regard, she was almost the complete opposite of Khai'Zar, who had never intended to take any responsibility in the first place.
Fortunately, Zeke knew exactly how to console her.
"Akasha," he said in a far gentler voice, "did you take a good look around earlier? Did you see the smiles on everyone's faces? They are happy because they managed to stay alive. Because of your leadership. Even the very ship we stand on was built by you. Every brick, every array, every single beam was shaped by your power"
He paused, letting the words sink in. "That is what you have done for me. You have given me victory. You have given wings to my ambitions."
Zeke could tell that the Spirit was listening, though her expression had not changed in the slightest. Flattery alone meant nothing to her. The only thing that could convince a being of pure logic was, ultimately, logic.
"Did you think I expected to pay no price for all these marvels?" Zeke asked. "Did you think I was not willing to give something up for everything you have done for me? Look into my mind and tell me if I am speaking the truth. See for yourself how much I was prepared to pay."
There was a brief pause as Akasha did exactly what he had asked.
"Now tell me clearly, are we still within the acceptable margin?"
"We are still within the acceptable margin," Akasha answered immediately.
"...Well within," Zeke corrected her. "Now tell me this. Does it make sense for you to get worked up over a deviation within the expected parameters?"
Akasha hesitated for just an instant before answering in a resolute voice. "No."
Zeke nodded firmly. "Since you already realize that, how about you stop moping and help me come up with a plan for how we should develop in the future, yes?"
There was a brief pause as Akasha simply stared at him before finally nodding. Then she looked away, almost embarrassed. It was the most human gesture he had seen from her yet. At the same time, he could hear her murmuring under her breath.
"I was not moping."